Element identity
Atomic number, symbol, relative atomic mass display and periodic position are established reference data.
Atomic / electronic model
Ground-state electron configuration and atomic reference values are compiled/evaluated data; orbital graphics are teaching probability models, not photographs.
Material / molecular structure
The displayed ordinary structure is based on established material or molecular science; simplified viewers are labelled as teaching schematics where exact crystallographic coordinates are not rendered.
Temperature / phase path
Transition values are reference/evaluated values for the stated teaching path; pressure, purity and allotropy can matter.
Geography
Real pins use reviewed place/dataset context. Conceptual layers are used when country pins would imply false occurrence, unsafe inventory or an incomplete global distribution.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is element 30, a Group 12 metal with a filled 3d subshell and a dominant Zn²⁺ chemistry. Its signature materials story is galvanizing: a zinc coating can protect steel not only as a barrier but also electrochemically.
Zinc atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Zinc: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does zinc have?
Zinc’s atomic number is 30, so every zinc atom has 30 protons, and a neutral atom also has 30 electrons. Its most common natural isotope, zinc-64, has 34 neutrons (other isotopes have different neutron counts).
What is the symbol for zinc?
The chemical symbol for zinc is Zn.
Is zinc a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Zinc is a solid at room temperature (about 25 °C).
What family (group) is zinc in?
Zinc is a transition metal, in group 12, period 4 of the periodic table.
What is the electron configuration of zinc?
The ground-state electron configuration of zinc is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
Thirty protons define zinc.
A filled 3d shell and two 4s electrons frame zinc chemistry.
Zinc closes the first-row d-block.
Natural zinc contains several stable isotopes.
Metallic zinc and biological/chemical Zn²⁺ are different forms of the element.
Zinc in its period and family
Zinc ends the first-row d-block in Group 12. Its filled 3d¹⁰ subshell distinguishes much of its chemistry from neighboring transition metals with partially filled d shells.
Zinc Visual Lab
Decode zinc’s tile, compare Zn and Zn²⁺ shell counts, rotate a ⁶⁴Zn teaching nucleus and HCP structure, inspect 4s and representative 3d probability models, and connect zinc to galvanizing, alloys, batteries, biology and ore geography.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Zinc in one minute
Atomic number 30 means every zinc nucleus contains 30 protons.
Neutral zinc has the ground-state configuration [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
Zn²⁺ is the dominant simple ion because the two 4s electrons are removed.
Zinc metal has a hexagonal structure near room temperature.
Galvanizing protects steel with a zinc coating; it does not turn the steel into zinc.
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 2 electrons
The 4s model is spherical; the 3d z² model is one representative d-orbital angular form. Zinc’s 3d subshell is filled. These isolated-atom probability models do not show electrons literally flowing through galvanized steel.
Zinc has a hexagonal structure near room temperature, often described in the HCP family with a comparatively large c/a ratio. The viewer is a close-packed teaching cell, not an exact crystallographic coordinate set.. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The 4s model is spherical; the 3d z² model is one representative d-orbital angular form. Zinc’s 3d subshell is filled. These isolated-atom probability models do not show electrons literally flowing through galvanized steel.
Where do I meet zinc?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Galvanizing
Zinc coatings protect steel by providing a physical barrier and by preferential electrochemical oxidation when the coating is damaged.
Why galvanizing can protect even when the coating is scratched
Zinc’s signature engineering story combines a coating barrier with electrochemical preference.
Barrier protection
A continuous zinc layer physically separates steel from the environment.
Zinc, cadmium and mercury
Group 12 keeps a filled d10 subshell, while density, phase behavior and heavy-atom effects change strongly down the group.
| Config. | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² |
|---|---|
| State | solid |
| Common ion | Zn²⁺ |
| Config. | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² |
|---|---|
| State | solid |
| Config. | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² |
|---|---|
| State | liquid at 20 °C |
Zinc properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 30 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | 65.38 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Group / period / block | Group 12 · Period 4 · d-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | 1.65 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Reference isotope | ⁶⁴Zn | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State context | Bluish-silver solid metal at 20 °C | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Density | 7.134 g/cm³ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Material / molecular structure | Zinc metal · hexagonal close-packed | Zinc has a hexagonal structure near room temperature, often described in the HCP family with a comparatively large c/a ratio. The viewer is a close-packed teaching cell, not an exact crystallographic coordinate set. | Measured |
| Classification | Group 12 metal | Periodic-table / chemistry classification | Evaluated |
| Structure-model scope | Zinc has a hexagonal structure near room temperature, often described in the HCP family with a comparatively large c/a ratio. The viewer is a close-packed teaching cell, not an exact crystallographic coordinate set. | Teaching visualization; exact crystallographic coordinates are not implied unless stated. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting / transition reference | 692.677 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Boiling / gas reference | 1180 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Phase-path context | At approximately standard pressure, zinc is solid below about 692.677 K, liquid up to about 1180 K, and gaseous above the boiling reference. | Shared phase registry drives the slider, regions and markers. | Evaluated |
| Condition warning | Temperature and pressure define phase behavior; purity/allotropy may matter. | Teaching condition statement | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary electrical behavior | Metallic conductor | Qualitative bulk behavior; exact resistivity depends on temperature, purity and alloy state. | Measured |
| Conduction model | Collective solid-state electrons | Do not interpret isolated-atom orbital clouds as literal current paths. | Reviewed |
| Surface / compound caveat | Oxides, salts and alloys can behave differently from the pure metal | Material context | Reviewed |
| Engineering values | Condition-dependent | Use condition-specific materials data for engineering calculations. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common oxidation states | +2 dominant | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ion / common ion context | Zn²⁺ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Periodic chemistry context | Zinc ends the first-row d-block in Group 12. Its filled 3d¹⁰ subshell distinguishes much of its chemistry from neighboring transition metals with partially filled d shells. | Element-specific interpretation | Reviewed |
| Chemistry caution | Elemental form, ions and compounds are distinct chemical objects. | Interpretive teaching rule | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⁶⁴Zn | Stable · most abundant natural isotope | Teaching nucleus contains 30 protons and 34 neutrons. | Evaluated |
| ⁶⁶Zn | Stable · major natural isotope | One of five naturally occurring stable or very long-lived zinc isotopes. | Evaluated |
| ⁶⁸Zn | Stable · major natural isotope | Another important component of natural zinc. | Evaluated |
| Zinc isotope family | Multiple stable natural isotopes | Natural zinc has a multi-isotope abundance pattern rather than one dominant isotope alone. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ⁶⁴Zn · 30 protons + 34 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
Is Zinc a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
At approximately standard pressure, zinc is solid below about 692.677 K, liquid up to about 1180 K, and gaseous above the boiling reference.
Where on Earth is Zinc found or produced?
Who discovered Zinc, and when?
Zinc compounds and zinc-bearing copper alloys were used long before metallic zinc was understood as a distinct element.
Controlled production of metallic zinc developed in Asia and later Europe.
Galvanizing and brass made zinc a major engineering material.
Zinc is used in corrosion protection, alloys, batteries, chemicals and nutrition, with significant recycling.
From sphalerite to zinc products: a high-level path
Zinc ores are mined and concentrated, commonly by separating sphalerite from surrounding minerals.
Industrial processing converts concentrates through hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical routes; this guide intentionally omits operating details.
Refined zinc is cast or used for galvanizing, alloys, batteries and chemical manufacture.
Secondary zinc can be recovered from galvanized scrap, brass, dusts and other zinc-bearing materials.
What is zinc used for?
Galvanized steel
Zinc coatings protect steel infrastructure, vehicles and products from corrosion.
Brass
Zinc is a major alloying element with copper.
Batteries
Zinc participates in alkaline, zinc-carbon, zinc-air and other electrochemical systems.
Zinc compounds
ZnO and other compounds are used in rubber, ceramics, coatings and specialized products.
Zinc isotopes and natural abundance
⁶⁴Zn
Stable · most abundant natural isotopeTeaching nucleus contains 30 protons and 34 neutrons.
⁶⁶Zn
Stable · major natural isotopeOne of five naturally occurring stable or very long-lived zinc isotopes.
⁶⁸Zn
Stable · major natural isotopeAnother important component of natural zinc.
Zinc isotope family
Multiple stable natural isotopesNatural zinc has a multi-isotope abundance pattern rather than one dominant isotope alone.
Five-question Zinc check
What is zinc’s atomic number?
What is the common zinc ion?
What is galvanizing?
What is zinc’s ground-state electron configuration?
What is the principal zinc ore mineral?
Zinc questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
What is zinc’s atomic number?
Short answer: Zinc is atomic number 30.
Atomic number is defined by proton count, so 30 protons are what make an atom zinc. A neutral zinc atom also has 30 electrons, while isotopes can have different neutron counts without changing the element.
Key point: Atomic number = proton count.
What is zinc’s symbol?
Short answer: Zn.
The symbol Zn is the standardized chemical abbreviation for element 30. In a chemical formula, Zn identifies zinc atoms; a compound containing Zn is not automatically the same material as elemental zinc.
Key point: Zn always identifies element 30.
What is zinc’s electron configuration?
Short answer: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
The neutral-atom ground-state reference used on this page is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s². This is an isolated-atom reference: bonding and ion formation can change which outer electrons are present or chemically active. The listed common oxidation-state context is +2 dominant, which helps connect the atomic configuration to ordinary chemistry without treating electron counting as a single universal rule.
Key point: Electron configuration is a ground-state atomic reference, not a literal picture of every compound.
What is zinc used for?
Short answer: A major use is galvanizing steel; zinc is also used in brass, batteries and many zinc compounds.
Galvanized steel: Zinc coatings protect steel infrastructure, vehicles and products from corrosion. Brass: Zinc is a major alloying element with copper. Zinc metal, Zn²⁺ in biology and zinc compounds in batteries or coatings are chemically distinct. Galvanized steel is mostly iron or steel covered by zinc.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
Why does zinc usually form Zn²⁺?
Short answer: The two outer 4s electrons are removed, leaving a filled 3d¹⁰ shell.
Galvanizing protects steel with a zinc coating; it does not turn the steel into zinc. Zinc ends the first-row d-block in Group 12. Its filled 3d¹⁰ subshell distinguishes much of its chemistry from neighboring transition metals with partially filled d shells.
Key point: The mechanism matters: connect the observed behavior to electron structure, bonding, phase or the specific material form rather than memorizing the result alone.
How does galvanizing protect steel?
Short answer: The zinc layer acts as a barrier and can also oxidize preferentially, helping protect exposed steel electrochemically.
Zinc is element 30, a Group 12 metal with a filled 3d subshell and a dominant Zn²⁺ chemistry. Its signature materials story is galvanizing: a zinc coating can protect steel not only as a barrier but also electrochemically. Galvanizing protects steel with a zinc coating; it does not turn the steel into zinc.
Key point: The mechanism matters: connect the observed behavior to electron structure, bonding, phase or the specific material form rather than memorizing the result alone.
What color is zinc metal?
Short answer: Fresh zinc is bluish-silver to silvery-gray. Surface oxidation and lighting can change its appearance.
The ordinary elemental-material description used here is: Bluish-silver solid metal at 20 °C. Zinc metal has a hexagonal structure near room temperature.
Key point: Elemental appearance can differ from the colors of its ions, compounds, oxide films or host materials.
Scientific sources for Zinc
Questions to ask next about Zinc
A good element lesson should lead to the next useful question, not end after a list of facts.
Found an error, something unclear, or a missing topic?
Tell us what you noticed. Feedback goes to a private review queue and is never published automatically.